Their jeers turned into cheers nine minutes into the second half when they halved Morecambe’s lead as Dennis collected a pass and rifled the ball past Dan Nizic.

It set up a suitably nervy half with both sets of fans on edge with every misplaced pass and missed tackle.

McGurk’s acrobatic effort went wide of the visitors’ goal but, with the Shrimps struggling to assert themselves, it was the visitors who seemed the likelier to score.

So it proved as, with 16 minutes left, the Morecambe defence failed to deal with a free-kick from deep and Kellett half-volleyed the Spireites level.

Both sides could have snatched a winner with time running out as Shrimps substitute Vadaine Oliver headed into the side netting and sent another effort wide.

Dodds did likewise at the other end but the best chance fell to another Morecambe replacement in Gregg Wylde who, having fashioned a sight of the Chesterfield goal, could only lash the ball over the bar.

That was as close as the two sides managed in five minutes of added time which left Morecambe perhaps grateful for a point in the end but also wondering what might have been.